Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-11
THE INCORPORATION SCHEME.

Some few parties dissatisAsd with the 10
suit Of the recent city election desire ia
resurrect the scheme to rcincorporate
Butte under the new incorporation law
in hopes the successful candidates may be
legislated out of Office by the adoption Of
the act. They nev labored under a
greater mistake. To be briei, we will say
that while there are . few provisions OF
the new law which are commendable, there
are so many which are Objectionable and
unpopular that the electors of the city
would reject it by an overwhelming ma
jority.
In the first place the Office OF Police
Magistrate which, under the new law. is
made elective, should he an a~ppointive
Office, if any be thus filled. while those
which should be elective are made appoint
i've. 1t is a welLknown and conceded fact
that a Police Magistrate who does his
duty faithfully and impartially cannot be
elected upon a party ticket in Butte. He
incurs enmities in the discharge Of his
duties that make themselves felt at the
polls and which insure his defeat.
In the second place q people who are
jealous of their rights do not take kindly
to any measure which deprives them OF
their franchise and turns it over into the
hands of second parties. This is I'M Ameri-
can. democratic, un-Republican and alb
horrent to every freeman. The people OF
Butte believe they are as qualified to select
n II %hoi~ o;k- oH;noo nc <lo- - - cn1ook @~
or two.
In the third place the debt clause meets
with almost general disiavor. 1t provides
that a debt may be created equaling 4 per
cent OF the assessable property of the city.
This in the proposed new limits amounts
to about $4,000, 900. Thus it may be seen
that under the provisions of the law, the
debt OF $24O, 900 may be loaded
the taxpayers of the city. The sim
pie consideration of this fact is enough to |
all proposed new business enter
to withdraw capital from invest
nents and to keep out that from other
It is a fatal provision in the law.
md even if it contained no other objection.
lble feature it is sufficient to kill the
'cheme OF Incorporation under it.
In the fourth place the proposed extended
limits OF the city include none but pat
'nted mineral ground with more or less
improvements upon it. Under the provis-
of the bill all streets to be laid out |
lpon new additions to a city must con.
orn in width and direction with those e. |
ablished within the old boundaries. A
moments consideration will convince any +
man that the enforcement OF
he law in this particular would work in I
hardship and loss upon own
rs of these properties. The successful
Of their mines would be seriously
nterfered with by reason of the fact that
of the surface ground may be
for street and alley purposes.
such a procedure would be so manifestly un-
ust to mine owners that further reference
it is unnecessary.
In the fifth place it is questionable
an enlargement of the city limits
vt the present time would be in the line of
economy. Nearly all of the Sc, OOO, 900
lssessable properly referred to lie within
The present boundaries OF the city. An ex-
ension of the limits would not take in as
essable property sufficient to yield taxes
quail to the amount required to pay for
aging out and improving the streets
Hence an increased levy upon the
entral or business portion of the city
would have to be made in order to meet
he expense of outside improvements. So
instead of tightening the present burden of
.axation it would be made heavier and
more, onerous.
In view of these facts alone The MINER,
which has no interest in the proposition
to protect that of the people of the
ity, cannot support the scheme to rein
orporste the city under the new law. It
ees evils in it which are not overbalanced
corresponding good. It believes the
OF the incorporation law would
the end lead the city in irretrlevable
|ebt, increase the burden OF taxation, null.
iply embarrassments and produce general
dissatisfaction,